Draft appliance.



J. A. BUCHANAN.

DRAFT APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1912.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

INVENTOR J. 11 .B uclzazayv WITN ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM co.. WASHING UNITED STATES PATNT QFFIQ I 7 JOHN A. BUCHANAN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAFT APrtIANcn.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN A. BUCHANAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft Appliances, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in draft appliances of the type indicated by whitiletrees, eveners, etc.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide(a) An all-metal device which is of minimum weight, which is formed of a minimum number of parts, and which possesses a maximum strength. (6) To provide a device of this type in which the body portion is tubular, and in whichthe attaching eye is formed in a single piece in such a manner as to support the tubular body portion against strains provided in use. (0) To provide a device of this type in which the body portion and hook are relatively formed so as to provide the positioning of the eye being attached at the end of the body portion.

A further object is to provide a construction which is simple and efficient in operation, durable in constructions, and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, mv invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the viewsFigure 1 is a plan view, partly in sectlon, of a device constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one end of the body portion. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in plan illustrating the manner in which an eye is positioned for the purpose of attaching it to the hook. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the hook and the eye when the parts are ready to be swung to the position in which they are operative in use. Figs. 7 and 8 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 16, 1913. Application filed March 8, 1912. Serial No. csaeee.

are detail views showing modifications in the hook structure In the drawings I have illustrated my invention in the form of an evener or doubletree bar, but it will be readily understood that it is applicable for use as a swingletree or whiiiletree structure with little or no change.

10 designates the body portion or bar and is inthe form of a tubular member preferably flattened on its upper and lower sides, as shown in Fig. 8, to provide in cross section, major and minor axes. The body portion is preferably of equal size throughout its length, although if desired, it may be tapered toward its opposite ends; in either case it is formed with open ends, and is preferably made of steel or other suitable material.

11 designates the eye which is preferably formed in a single ieoe, having its forward portion l2preferab iy formed with a rib 13, the interior of this portion conforming to the contour of the forward curved face of the body portion. The eye is provided on its upper and lower faces with elongated extensions 14, also formed to fit the upper and lower faces of the body portion, the extensions being of a length to extend a considerable distance lengthwise of the body portion, said extensions preferably having a width to extend on to the curved portions of the front and rear faces of said body portion. The portion of the eye in the rear of the extensions 14 has its inner face curved to fit the curved rear wall of the body portion as shown in Fig. 3 without having the wall of the eye extending sufiiciently close to provide a contact between the opposing portion of the wall, the rear portion of the eye being formed with a rib 15 for the purpose of giving it a maximum strength. The eye is secured to the body portion by rivets or bolts16, or other suitable fastening devices, these devices passing through the extensions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By this construction, the central portion of the body portion is substantially reinforced by the eye structure in a manner to withstand the strains which are placed thereon V by the lever-like action of the pulling strains at the end of the device, thus enabling the using of a relatively thin metal for the body por tion'to provide for a minimum weight of the device as a whole, the portion 12 of the eye and the extensions 14; co-acting topre- In addition, the extensions 14 act to protect the device against lifting or transverse vertical strains, especially liable to oc'c'urfwhen used as a doublet-rec or evener structure for plows, etc, where the angle of the direction of'pull changes suddenly, the upper and lower extensions reinforcing the bar wall to resist such strains, the length of the'extensions determining the amount of resistance. Furthermore, the presence of the band-like portion 12 acts in the double capacity of preventing wear between the eye and bar, and at the same time, in cohperation with the rear walls, acts to prevent all liability of shearing oil the belt. or rivet heads under the strains placed on'the appliance in use.

As heretofore pointed out, the ends of the body portion are open, and as shown in Fig. 4-, the forward face of the body portion, at its ends, is cut away to provide an' opening 17 of suitable length longitudinal of the body portion. The ends are additionally cut away, as at 18, to form a recess for a purpose presently described, the forward wall of said recess preferably leading to the I cut-away portion 17 in the form of a curve,

although this is not absolutely essential.

The recess 18 is shown as having curved walls and this, I consider, to be a preferred form, but it will be obvious that this particular form may be changed as for instance by making it somewhat angular or J-shaped, the purpose being mainly to provide a recess leading inwardly from the end of the body portion in such manner as to permit the eye or other holding portion of the member being attached to extend thereinto during the operation of attaching saidmember to the device. H

Mounted in the ends of the body'portion,

V by a suitable member, such as a bolt or rivet 19, is a member 20, acting somewhat similar to a hook and being approximately of the shape shown in Fig. 1, having its inner end 21 mounted within the interior of the body portion and on the pin, bolt, or. rivet 19, then extending somewhat angularly to form a face 20 and then extending outwardly through the cut-away portion 17 with the return portion 22 on the outer side. The free end of the member may be of the form shown inFig. 1, or may have a configuration providing a recess 2.2, such, for instance, as represented in Figs. 7 and 8, the latter constructions causing the inner projection to be within the bar (as shown in Fig. 7) when the hook is in its normal position in use. The face 20" is of advantage in use, acting as a stop to preventthe hook portion to apply pressure on the inner end of recesses or openings 17, as when a change in direction ofmovement of the animal.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 1, the normal position of the hook when the attached member is in position, practically places the inner wall 0 the member22 1n position where it slightly underlies the upper 'face of the body portion, the amount of overlap of said upper face being as desired, and it may be that in some lns'tances no overlapping whatever need be provided, the

essential being that there will be but'a small,

if any, space between the inner wall of the hookf22 and the vertical line corresponding to the outer edges of the curved ends ofthe" body-portion between therecesses l8 and the cut-away portion. ,The book 22 is so positioncd that when swung toward the rear, as in Fig. 6, its free end will'preferably contact with the end or the rear curved face of the body portion, said end acting as a stop to restrict the movement of the hook toward the rear. V

In connecting the member to be attached,

the eye or other form of attaching struc-.

ture of such. member, indicated M25, is

placed within the recess 1 8,.as shown in Fig.

5, after which the hook is-swung into and through such eye, enabling the eye to be drawn into the recess ofthe hook, as shown in Fig. 6, after which the hook and member being attached are swung to the forward position, the po'sltlon shown 1n F1g.,1. As

will beseenin Fig. 6, the structure is such that the eye 25 can only be moved to the forward position when it is located in the recess of the hook, the part of the body portion between the recess 18 and the cut-away portion acting to prevent the swinging of the hook and eye 25 to a forward position excepting when the eye 25 is located as shown in Fig. 6. This is of advantage in thata tively to the pivot point that the eye can-' not be received on the hook exce'pting'such.

eye extend within the recess.

By this particular arrangement of book i mounting and particularshape" of the ends of the body portion, it will be readily. seen that thehook member has'a limited move 3 ment which will prevent the hook swinging i to the rear of the body portion; furthermore, the arrangement is such that the attachment of'the eye 25 is had at the end of the body portion, a point closer to the normal line of .draft,and a point where less 'difliculty will be had in positioning themember to be attached (a trace, for instance) than if the attaching position be located at. the rear of the body portion. At the same time, the relative movementis such as to provide an absolute locking of "the eye memthe hook, when the parts are in this position,

would drop out of the eye 25.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred way in which my device may be employed, it will be readily understood that changes and modifications therein may be required or desired under the exigencies of use, and I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to make any and all such changes and modifications as may be found necessary and desired, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a draft appliance, a body portion formed hollow and open ended and cut away on its forward face to provide a front recess, and a hook pivoted interiorly of the body portion and projecting through the front recess when in draft position, the point of the hook in such position being toward the open end of the body portion,

said body portion also having alined top and bottom recesses to receive an eye, the bodyportion joining a wall of the top and bottom recess on a crosssection of the body-portion intersecting these recesses, the hook being movable from its normal draft position to receive the eye after the latter has been positioned in said recesses.

2. In a draft appliance, a body portion in the form of a hollow tubular open-ended bar flattened on its upper and lower sides to provide, in cross-section, major and minor axes, said bar being cut away on its forward face to provide a front recess at and ex tending inwardly from the open end, and also having alined top and bottom recesses spaced from the front recess, and a hook pivoted interiorly of the bar and adapted to swing to close the end of the member against the entrance of an attaching member, said hook projecting through the front recess when in draft position, the end of the rear face of the bar projecting beyond a crosssectional plane of the body-portion intersecting the hook pivot and forming a stop to limit the swinging movement of the hook.

3. In a draft appliance, a body portion in the form of a hollow tubular open-ended bar flattened on its upper and lower sides to provide, in cross-section, major and minor axes, said bar being cut away on its forward face'to provide a front recess at and extending inwardly from the open end, and a hook pivoted interiorly of the bar and projecting through the front recess when in draft position, the end of the rear face projecting beyond a cross-sectional plane of the bodyportion intersecting the hook pivot, said hook being pivoted to cause its free end to abut against said end to limit the swinging movement of the hook.

4. In a draft appliance, a body portion in the form of a hollow-tubular open-ended bar cut away on its forward face to provide a front recess, and a hook-like member pivoted interiorly of the bar and projecting through said recess when in draft position, said hook having a face adapted to contact with the inner face of the rear of the bar to prevent excess swinging movement of the member in a direction to provide pressure on the inner end of such recess.

5. In a draft appliance, a body portion in the form of a hollow-tubular open-ended bar cut away on its forward face to provide a front recess, and a hook-like member pivoted interiorly of the bar and projecting through said recess when in draft position, said hook having a face adapted to contact with the inner face of the rear of the bar to prevent excess swinging movement of the member in a direction to provide pressure on the inner end of such recess, the end of the rear face and the free end of the hook member complementally acting to limit the swinging movement of the member in the opposite direction.

6. In a draft appliance, a body portion in the form of a hollow tubular open-endedbar, said bar being cut away on its forward face to provide a front recess at and extending inwardly from each open end, and also having alined top and bottom recesses at the end of the bar to receive an eye, and a hook pivoted interiorly of the bar and projecting through the front recess with the hook closed when in draft position, the swinging movement of the hook to open it causing the point of the hook to pass through the eye, the contact of the point of the hook with the end of the bar inclosing said recesses, the body-portionjoining a wall of the top and bottom recesses on a cross-section of the body-portion intersecting these recesses.

7 In a draft appliance, a oody portion in the form of a hollow tubular open-ended bar cut away on its forward face to provide a front recess at and extending inwardly from an open-end, and a hook pivoted interiorly of the bar and projecting through the front recess when in draft position, the point of the hook in such position lying within the bar to form a closed loop for an eye, said bar having the hook end provided with vertically-alined top and bottom recesses to permit the eye being attached to lie therein when the hook is being swung from and to its normal draft position to receive or discharge the eye, the body-portion joining a wall of the top and bottom recesses on a cross-section of the body-portion intersecting these recesses.

front recess at and extending inwardly from an open-end. and a hook pivoted interiorly of the bar and pro ecting through the front recess when in draft position, the point of the hook 111 such posltion lying \vlthln the bar to form a closed loop for an eye, said bar having the hook end provided with vertically-alined top and bottom recesses to permit the eye being attached to lie therein when the hook is being swung from and to its normal draft position to receive or discharge the eye, said hook being formed to permit the eye swinging; therewith to and from its receiving position solely when lo cated Within said loop, the body-portion joining a Wall of the top and bottom recesses on a cross-section of the body-portion interse'cting these recesses.

9. In a draft appliance, a body portion in the form of a hollow tubular bar flattened Wall of the top and bottom recesses 011 a cross-section of the body-portion intersecting these recesses, the hook being movable from its normal draft positionto receive the eye after the latter has been positioned insaid of the plane of the front of the bar when in draft position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN A. BUCHANAN.

' Witnesses:

MAX I-I. SRoLovrrz, Homer G. Snrrz.

Copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. r

recesses, the point of therhook lying in rear 

